When the black-green coalition in the Hessian state parliament passes the climate law this week, criticism from the opposition will be harsh.

The debate marks the parliamentary conclusion of a checkered debate that began when the eco-party didn't even want the law.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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As early as the first reading in October, a constitutional lawsuit supported by Deutsche Umwelthilfe, which was intended to force Hesse to present a climate law in 2021, was recalled.

The Greens explained at the time that such a law was not necessary in Hesse.

The lawsuit failed, and the governing coalition also rejected a relevant draft law by the SPD.

But in August last year, Environment Minister Priska Hinz (Die Grünen) presented a "law to promote climate protection and to adapt to the consequences of climate change".

It contains the "determination of a necessary contribution by the state of Hesse to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius, if possible 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial level".

To this end, greenhouse gas emissions are to be gradually reduced: by at least 40 percent by 2025 and by 100 percent by 2045.

The state ministries must work out the concrete measures.

They will be included in the climate plan, for the implementation of which a total of 370 million euros has been earmarked in the double budget.

Whether the goals can actually be achieved

"Taking countermeasures" if climate targets are not achieved

In the event of discernible deviations from the target, the state government can immediately take countermeasures.

It also appoints an independent advisory board consisting of five scientists, which has the right to make recommendations to politicians at any time.

These are "far-reaching determinations that show that we mean business," says Hinz.

The leader of the FDP parliamentary group, René Rock, doubts that. The black-green coalition is only presenting a climate protection law in the ninth year of its reign, shortly before the new elections.

"Isn't that a bit late?" Rock complains that the law gives the state government until 2026 to draw up a plan on how climate neutrality should be achieved in state-owned buildings.

"Less is really not possible anymore."

The SPD parliamentary group believes that the draft law it submitted and rejected by the coalition formulated further-reaching goals.

Now everything will stay the same, MP Gernot Grumbach fears.

Martina Feldmayer, deputy leader of the Greens, speaks of a “milestone”.

She underlines that in future all laws, regulations and projects of the state government will have to be checked with regard to the climate goals.

But the municipalities would also be held responsible and financially supported for this.

CDU: New law is based on federal rules

"What we regulate in this law, I say openly, is not particularly innovative, new or creative." With this assessment, CDU MP Michael Reul drew attention to himself during the first reading of the law.

As a representative of the coalition partner of the Greens, he explained that the goals, the numbers and the entire tectonics and system were based on what the federal government had laid down in its laws.

In view of the interactions between the goals and measures of the various levels of government, this is the only sensible way.

He does not change anything in the previous procedures.

"It's just moving from a voluntary process that the state government has the discretion to control, cancel or change to a legally mandated process."

The German Environmental Aid disagrees.

The draft law adopts the federal regulations to a large extent, but reduces the effectiveness of precisely those instruments that are particularly important in the federal law.

The position of the German Environmental Aid is one of the 45 opinions from associations and experts that were obtained as part of a hearing on the draft law.

The critical voices prevail.

They come not only from the business associations, but also from actors such as BUND and Attac.

Occasionally, however, the bill is also praised.

The reason given is that the situation is dramatic.

They force you to act.